1. Firstly, a disclaimer. What you are about to read is quite possibly
meaningless. Admittedly, this is something that could be placed at the top
most of these articles, but there is a specific reason in this case, namely
that watching pre-season matches can be a fickle business. Two years ago,
there was a faint tang of crisis about Newcastle United and Alan Pardew was
repelling questions about it; they finished fifth.

There has been a hint of discomfort this time, too, with Joe Kinnear’s
staggering appointment as director of